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14 November 2026

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Opinion

Why is Ofsted silent on the school funding crisis?

If Ofsted is happy to rely on anecdotal evidence for off-rolling and school readiness, why does it refuse to speak out on the school funding crisis, the impacts of which are clear as day, asks Paul Whiteman Ofsted’s annual report describes a school system that is performing well but is under significant strain. The number […]

If we don’t know when teaching interventions have failed, we’ll never improve

In theory everyone thinks it’s a good idea, but why are schools not embracing evaluation more fully when its impact can be so huge, wonders Stuart Kime The English education system has a pretty strange – perhaps dysfunctional – relationship with evaluation, although I don’t think that we’re unique in this. We talk about it […]

Schools must be prepared for pupil-on-pupil sexual assault

It’s an uncomfortable subject for many, but a recent court case has highlighted the need for schools to have robust guidelines in place that address the problem of sexual abuse perpetrated by young children, says Emma Bannister Dean With Barnardo’s reporting to the House of Commons science and technology committee that children as young as […]

How can schools be supported to take on apprentices?

Schools paying into the apprenticeship levy need advice on how to access it so they can reap its benefits for staff training, argues David Cobb At a time when the headlines are awash with schools’ struggles for funding, since May 2017 some £225 million has been taken from schools in the shape of the apprenticeship […]

Who has the power to ban academy trustees?

Leora Cruddas explores the ethical and legal implications of removing unsuitable trustees On Wednesday last week, the Public Accounts Committee held its second session into academy finances. The themes explored were wide-ranging. One of these was the proposed “banning” of trustees who are found to misuse public money. It is absolutely right that the Education […]

Don’t neglect curriculum content for pupils with severe learning difficulties

We must protect curriculum content if pupils with severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties are to be included in the broad and balanced education they are entitled to, counsels Dr Deborah Robinson Yesterday, the Department for Education published an evaluation of the seven aspects of engagement assessment and announced its plans for a new […]

Teaching out of specialism: does it matter to pupils?

Imagine it’s Monday morning and you are suddenly told you must take a supply lesson. Your teaching subject is geography. Today, however, you will be teaching Urdu. For the few readers among you who speak the language, this may be an exciting moment. For everyone else, it is terrifying. I say this as someone who, […]

What role should schools play in teaching pupils to spot fake news?

There’s been lots of talk about the need for children to identify fake news, but what resources are available? Asha Carpenter brings us up-to-date Research conducted by the Reuters Institute last year showed that there are clear distinctions in how people of different ages access news. Older generations are more likely to access it via […]

What do schools need to know about assessment?

The land might have been cleared for self-improvement but the tools are in short supply, says Stuart Kime The coalition government of 2010 brought with it a secretary of state for education who believed passionately that “a thousand flowers” should bloom in our school system, borrowing from a phrase used in mid-1950s China to encourage […]